Sunday, May 11, 2008

ArrrrrrRrrRRrrrRrRRrRrrrrt

It's just as well that I've got a packet of pictures to pony up - any time and energy I have for words is being hungrily devoured by writing projects! So without further ado...

A non-sponsored series of street art
A series that was sponsored and dictated by a Vespa manufacturer (POSSIBLY VESPA).
...something which irked at least one individual.
I'm not sure who made this, but given how long it has been around (at least a few months as I can tell) then I am guessing it was at least sponsored by the TTC or another government body.
Further down into Big Company Towne......we have the always ubiquitous and generally scorned "Corporate Art".
Q: Which art form is more valid?
A: None of this will matter after the Lizard Overlords finally reveal themselves.

Actually, I rather enjoyed Woody Allen's take on art in a book of interviews with him which I am reading: "Art to me has always been entertainment for intellectuals". Not to mention his take on being survived by his works: "...I'm not interested in living on in the hearts of my countrymen. I'd rather live on in my apartment!".

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Operation: Better Way of Life - Final edition?

Right!

So it looks like I am going to have to be a responsible adult. Well, I don't have to but I am choosing to be one...somewhat begrudingly.

After crunching the numbers into smaller, more digestible shapes I have determined that the best plan is for me to wipe out the remainder of the debt I accrued from moving to Toronto. This will mean working through the month of May - which, fortunately, is one of those odd months where there are five paydays in four weeks and thus a kind of "bonus" payday sneaks in before having to pay rent - so that I can take all of June off as well as the first week of July. Given that my birthday is in June, this seems a pretty fitting gift to myself. I'll ride into the second week of July pretty broke, but debt free and most likely just in time for my big fat British tax refund.

So for the next four weeks I'll be working hard at making the best use of my spare time as possible. This will be really necesaary since the best way to keep my inner child from throwing a tantrum at being made to do dull office work is to placate it with the knowledge that at least some good writing, relaxation and proper sleeping habits are going on. Sounds exciting, I know! But it should result in a plethora of scripts and script hustling which will provide plenty of fuel for this here blahg. Also photos dammit! NEXT POST THERE WILL BE PHOTOS

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

CoS BS

So last night, after I finished putting the final polish on a couple of comedy sketches for my web collaborator, I found myself with a small concern I'd never thought I'd have to wrestle with.

It stemmed from a sketch I had written about a fictional "Church of Scientology Babysitting Service". As most people who know me would be sure to say, I'm usually willing to take the piss out of anyone and everything without fear for consequences. I'd even go so far as to say I can be a bit reckless at times. However, the worst this has ever bitten me in the ass is with the inevitable "Oh dear the person you're making a joke about is standing right behind you" scenario.

But man, if there is one* thing that is objectionable about the CoS it is that they have no sense of humor about being mocked and are a very, very litigious bunch. Not only that, but they have been known to harrass the hell out of any journalist who investigates them, put serious pressure on television shows that dare to satirize them (including getting the South Park episode about the CoS pulled - though it's still pretty easy to find on the internet) and have kidnapped the odd person (Go to page 61 of this pdf for an example). The protestors at the three world wide "Anonymous" protests wore and continue to wear masks for good reason.

I'm not looking out the window every ten minutes to try and figure out which of the strangers on my street might be a private investigator hired by the CoS. But that I've even for a second considered asking not to be credited for the sketch really pisses me off. Even further, inspired by some of the material in that pdf I've linked to, I've written a rough outline for a feature film drawing inspiration from several real life incidents involving the CoS. After a joyful, almost feverish spat of putting thoughts to page I wondered if anybody would be willing to fund such a thing, for fear of the good Church's pressure tactics coming to bear on them. The "Jews control the media and entertainment industry" bullshit is just that, but it's fair to say the CoS has a bit of control with the latter.

Or who knows, maybe the publicity from Anonymous' war on the scientologists has - or will, as they certainly haven't stopped - could lead to enough of a spotlight on these heinous shit merchants, thugs and demagogues to prevent them from being able to flex their muscles. Any thoughts? Should I go through with the feature script and try to get it made?

*There are many, many, many, many things that are objectionable about them.

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Addendum: I've added a couple of slideshows on the right-hand side, a new blogger feature I rather appreciate since this thing is generally pretty picture heavy (though not lately!). Feast your peepers on those, if you like.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

"Operation: Better way of life" continues

Well, I've done a rough budget and it looks like I could work my last day at my current contract on May 9th (provided that there has been some honesty regarding the length of the contract, which isn't always the case) and live frugally for three weeks to a month before needing employment again. If I'm lucky and my British tax refund arrives in time, I could even nab myself a second month.

However, I had originally planned to use that to cover the main cost of flying to see my friend in Berlin this fall. It would also make for some useful padding in my financial cushion, something that would be wise to fatten if I'm going to be working as little as possible. But maybe I should consider that my time in London (and Athens) could be seen as enough Old Buildings etc and careful saving for the time being. There is something to be said for investing in your career and personal contentment isn't there? That's another trick, of course, to make the time off feel like an investment instead of a purchase - the method being obvious enough (actually getting serious script work done and hustling further work).

Looking forward to all this, it becomes increasingly easy to resent the hell out of the beige coated office where I'm grossly under utilizing myself - but it's the work I do here that will earn the money to facilitate what I hope to be the first in a series of leaps to being able to make a living doing what I love. So yes, maybe I look about and realize that from my seated position the only way I can tell what time of day or which season it is, is by checking my computer and am thus reminded of the practices of certain prisons to disorient their charges - but I don't rabbit on about it to my co-workers or pretend that I've found some profound metaphor to describe office life.

Not like an obese twat in a baseball cap that I remember from the group training session at a job I turned down during the days between finishing my degree and hoofing it to London. I'll never forget how, as the trainer left to allow us privacy to fill in some paperwork that involved confidentiality or the like, the twat lifted his flabby chin and - with a big grin - asked everyone in the room if they "felt like robots yet?". Two people gave him dirty looks, one person's features drooped and the rest ignored him completely. I only got as far as "Well then -" when the trainer came back, but what I was trying to say to him was "Well then, why don't you go do something else?".

Sitting in the office two weeks ago and feeling more than a bit pissed off at what I was doing, that's precisely what I ended up saying to myself.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Leveling up...

NERD

Moving on!

So okay already, I've been in Toronto nearly 12 weeks now. I've got a place, I've got some furniture and though I don't have a steady job...I'm no longer entirely sure if I want one. This is related to my desire for something more than working jobs during the day in which I gain nothing but a paycheck, then trying to pursue my scriptwriting career in my spare time - essentially working 60 to 80 hour weeks and, even if I use spare time to relax, feeling at all times like I am doing something wrong if I am not writing.

As I'm sure anyone reading this can imagine, this has become pretty draining after two and a half years. That's how long it's been since I finished my degree and decided to forgo further education to dedicate myself to my career. I'd say I got off to a good start, making my short film and then heading to London...but along the way I think I may have fallen into a bit of a trap. This stems, essentially, from my take on the idea that you have to put up with a certain amount of - let's be poetic here - "shit" in order to earn "the good stuff". This is a pretty fair thing to believe.

But I'm now sure that I've either been putting up with the wrong kind of shit or too much shit in order to really get my mitts on a fair share of "the good stuff" - AKA progression in my struggle to make scriptwriting my full time career. At times, scriptwriting has been so squeezed into the margins of my day that it has begun to feel more like a really passionate hobby than what I really want it to be.

So, in no small part inspired by a daring move by my friend Victor in his own artistic endeavors, I've decided that it's time to either commit or quit. Luckily something has happened which I didn't think would - a third room mate that I could actually tolerate and enjoy living with has come up and shall be moving in at the start of the next month. This will help get my monthly living expenses down to a level which I believe most chartered accountants would define as total bullshit.

Thus!

I am going to try and get myself in the position to work a permanent job for just three days a week and use the other two working days to scriptwrite and hustle. To do that starting fresh instead of hurriedly scribbling during lunch breaks and after long days of punishing mundanity. I will then even be able to, heaven forbid, take a day on the weekend to do nothing but recharge my batteries and not feel like I have fallen victim to the bullshit that is an "opportunity cost".

Until that permanent part-time role becomes mine, I plan to alternate between temping and "not working". The contract I'm on right now goes for another two weeks (I think, maybe a third). After it ends, I'm taking one solid week off to experiment and see if my work ethic can be honed to (or is already at) a sharp enough point to really knuckle down to the grindstone and not look this gift horse in the metaphor until I can come up with a better metaphor for "to see if I'll actually spend the day writing or just wank around".

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Chili Willi

It's an odd time for me right now. I have more going on, writing and production-wise, than I think I ever have. BUT it is all in the early, larval stages - steadily developing, but larval nonetheless. It'll probably be at least a couple of months before anything I'm putting to paper and word file gets made into a kaleidoscope of stimuli I can wiggle under the behinds of my friends and loved ones.

So I post a picture of the eleven liters of chili I made! POT LUCK TONIGHT, TIME TO WORK ON THAT POT BELLY.

I attended a group comedy writing "jam" (or whatever the fuck you want to call it) last night. Good times and I think my chops were sufficient. It's always nice to bounce shit off of people, back and forth and let an idea snowball. I find that's often when I'm at my best with comedy, which is certainly why I often wish I could just transcribe conversations with friends and get paid somehow. Though, of course, you always need to make sure any of that shit is actually funny to people who aren't you and your buddy - you and your buddy in that specific circumstance.

Meanwhile, here is something I wish I'd had while in London - but which anybody might enjoy.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

I GOT SOME OF THOSE

So yes, it took longer than I expected but the screenprint is finished. For those who'd like to know more about the process, let's work backwards.

Friday, April 11, 2008

When men are allowed to be offended...


Guys...this...this is sexy...it just is okay?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Online petitions...

...feel about as flaccid as [Republican Senator's member] after they were caught soliciting [sexual act] from [homosexual escort] at [public transit terminal or back alley]!

But this one seems worth a damn, particularly since it is the precursor to a march on April 22nd - aka Earth Day. If you live in Toronto, you may wish to attend.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Cursed uninventive Anglo bastards

Seriously!

I just got back from a short trip out to Etobicoke, which richly reintroduced me to the pale grey wasteland that is a Canadian office park, and along the way I passed through a subway station named "Islington". Seeing it in a subway, a mode of transport I never used much until I lived in the UK Islington, really made my head flip for just long enough to notice.

Meanwhile, I'm going to try silk screening for the first time today. Results shall be posted later!

Pfffffft.....

Friday, April 04, 2008

Fire and Gold

Just a couple of things I bumped into recently, which I like. Firstly, I learned of the great Toronto fire in a manner more interesting than playing six degrees of Wikipedia.And this caught my eye firstly because it is in gold paint, which you don't see often, and then because of it's message.

If you can't write and are sick of the computer...

...then drink and paint!

Reference picture - A London "Teddy Girl" I clipped out of Nude magazine.Sketchy sketchGettin' thereI'm not sure if I consider this done, but it's done enough for today.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Urghhhh

Sorry guys, wrestling with writers block and job hunting doesn't an epic narrative make.

More soon, hopefully.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Swans & Garbage

During the temp job I just finished, one of my favorite things to do during my lunch hour was to go down to the waterfront. Soon enough I figured out the specific spot that two particular swans (and two cheeky ducks that follow them to pick at the food the swans often get thrown at them) like to come to.One swan was noticeably slower than the other and thus, thanks to some half-memory from a Warner Brothers cartoon I saw years ago, I secretly named him "Wilbur" and sometimes provided him with dialogue of the slow-witted mountain person variety. He and his nameless, brighter accomplice would show up at 1pm each day like clockwork and once or twice a week I would take great pleasure and relaxation in feeding them bits of bread that I'd try to save for them. It's not hard to see why seniors enjoy doing this sort of thing. By getting lost in their little world I could take a nice break from the stresses of my own. It was surprisingly difficult to get a decent shot of the two opportunistic ducks that would always see me feeding the swans and then nip over to try and steal what they could. The smarter, nameless swan often got really pissed at the ducks and once it even managed to clamp it's beak over the neck of a duck and give it a good shake - followed by a honk which I can only assume was Swan for "Fuck off you little bastard". Swan's are pretty foul mouthed eh? Anyways, I managed to get one of them in the bottom right of this picture.Now, this is right along the waterfront - specifically the waterfront which is supposed to be the shining glory of Toronto with all those million dollar condos that get the Che Guevera T-shirt brigade rubbing their tits in a fury. A lot of effort has been put into the landscaping, architecture and general cleanliness of this place - a rough analogue to my beloved Thames Embankment. Thanks to where I was temping, I've even gotten some interesting glimpses at what is planned for the future of the waterfront along with plenty of Utopian concept drawings and models. All that said and I still caught plenty of this.Which brought my mind back to things I've been reading in general and specifically about microscopic plastics in the world's supply of water. The mind starts to reel a bit, or at least mine did. I began to wonder how much of the chemical composition of Lake Ontario has been replaced by plastic particles. Then I wondered how much plastic was inside the Swan's stomachs. How much they were taking in with each bite of the bread I was tossing into the water for them to eat. How much of my own body, no matter how tiny a percentage, was contaminated by these particles - given the old 60% water routine. Idly tossing the bits of whole wheat into Wilbur's path, I felt like what I was doing was all of a sudden a bit sinister on just about every level possible. In a word, it felt polluted.I appreciate that VICE magazine is an amusing and often offensive (though not for the reasons you'd think) source of information - but their Internet television network VBS is a largely different creature in terms of raw quality, particularly their journalistic programs. I've referred to their Toxic Alberta series before and now, in relation to what I'm talking about, I'll refer you to the preview of their upcoming Toxic Garbage Island series that will cover, firsthand, what is going on in the South Pacific Sub-Tropical Gyre. The author of the corresponding article for the magazine had a frank lead-in to the topic which I think, after having read more on this, stands as highly appropriate.
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I'm not one of those guys who corners folks at parties to rant at them about biodiesal or calls people "fucking idiots" for being skeptical about global warming. But I should also point out that I'm not one of those Andrew Dice Claw "Fuck the whales" types either.
The problem with all the bravado on both sides of the ecology debate is that nobody really knows what they are talking about. Trying to form opinions on climate change, overpopulation, and peak oil hinges on ginormous leaps of faith based around tiny statistical deviances that even the scientists studying them have a hard time understanding. It gets so convoluted with all the yelling and politics that sometimes you just want something huge and incontrovertibly awful to come along for everybody to agree on. Something you can show anyone a picture of and go, "See? We're fucked?"

Well, I have just such a thing. There is a Texas-size section of the Pacific Ocean that is irretrievably clogged with garbage and it will never go away. And I have seen it with my own eyes. Case Closed. Oh, you want to hear more? Ok, fine.

-------
That last hyperlink is, of course, to the full article online. I don't fully agree that the problem rests on understanding tiny variances, the variances are anything but tiny, however the urge to have something which can shock people out of complacency is something for which I have a great deal of sympathy.

Meanwhile the BBC has an ongoing diary that started a few days ago, which looks at the problem from the perspective of the bird population in Midway Island.

I present this information not to lord anything over anyone or to encourage a proper case of Doom to fall about you like a funeral shroud. I'm doing it partly to buck up the old sanity, partly because it's important that as many people be as aware as possible so that when they think about - say - reusing or not reusing those thing plastic bags we use at the supermarket for our fruit and vegetables, they maybe think of this shit and opt toward the more responsible option.
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ALSO: LET'S DO THIS AMERICA

Friday, March 28, 2008

Monday, March 24, 2008

I don't care if it's lame

...I've just put the final touches to my new bedroom. I've said it before, a good bedside lamp makes all the difference in your daily peace of mind (and proper curtains don't hurt either).Also - magnificent coasters for the planned martini bar in the guest room.
Meanwhile, I had a bit of luck and bumped into another film-maker-in-the-making at my job today. He let me know about the Canadian Film Festival that is going on this week. I'm going to try for the opening gala tomorrow night and if that fails, at least one of the screenings. Meeting this fellow also reminded me that I should make some fuggin' business cards! How else am I ever going to become Mr. Hollywood?
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Addendum: I'm kind of a dick?

Also, some of you may be familiar with my theory that there is an alternate dimension populated entirely by political satire of this dimension....and shit is spilling over here from there.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Street Magic!

I just got back from a meeting with my web series collaborator that was pretty damn productive. I wish it wasn't the height of unprofessionalism to post every step of the process here, but luckily it isn't unprofessional to post the results and today we're a big step closer to doing that.

One thing that I can share is how he said to me that if I wrote something that could be as successful as "David Blaine's Street Magic" then he would throw money at me until I would never need another dollar. The first episode of the series has garnered fifteen million hits on YouTube, so basically only a few million short of something to do with Britney Spears' tits.

That is actually a compliment!

But out of the four online, the second and third are the best - so I've shared them below. All you really need to know going in is that "David Blaine" likes to harass the same two guys with various magic tricks. Enjoy!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Optimus Sup-Prime


I knew the sub-prime housing thing in the U.S. had had plenty of unfortunate consequences, but I guess I didn't stretch my imagination far enough as the above video caught me off-guard.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

DinoDayDreams

The building I'm currently working in is rather tall and I'm up on the 13th floor, so it's very unusual to see something move past the window. But yesterday afternoon a very long crane came by a window in my peripheral vision and, probably due to the odd loping motion in which it did so, for one brief and shining moment my brain interpreted it as a friendly brontosaurus going about it's business.

In modern day Toronto. I am sure that he would teach us all a lesson about our common humanity before his tragic death at the hand of overprotective but well meaning parents.

For those of you who have yet to give up on me as a decent human being (and were hoping for that one last thing to help push them over the edge), I should mention that I pounded out a detailed treatment for a three minute short based on that loverly quiz.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008


First a quiz, now uploading a webcomic...I'm turning to scum, SCUM.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Finally..

...a stupid Internet test I can get behind.

My Results
30

And while we're looking at silly things, why don't you come here and help me feed my Simcity fetish?

Meaty Posts should start with Meat


These are the boys, the meaty boys, which have my back this week.
Last night Roberto and I finally saw "There Will Be Blood". I went in with high expectations which were completely met and then met some more. Daniel-Day Lewis earned that fucking Oscar! For those of you have either seen it or don't care about SPOILERS, here is that final scene which made me have to work very hard not to pump my fist into the air and scream "EEEEEE...YYYYUS!". It was not the only scene to have this effect!



For those of you who didn't already know, Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood composed the entire soundtrack and did a magnificent job. During the very few shots where my attention may have wandered - namely broad California scenery shots - his soundtrack kept me absolutely riveted and contributed to the feeling that if I looked away, even for an instant, I would miss yet another magnificent example of What Film Should Do. Here's a clip of the music.



And if you feel like watching one of the horrors I came across in my failure to find my favorite scene, then go on ahead and do that to yourself!



Armed with what I knew going in, I very much expected the film to be evenly split between Eli the young pastor and Daniel the oil man. I should have paid more attention to the poster! This is a Daniel Day-Lewis marathon and though other actors put in strong performances, this really is all about him. He owns every scene he is in (about 90%) and you are always curious as to what he'll do next, even if it seems obvious. The charisma of his performance is such that you find yourself looking at the world through his characters own willful, misanthropic, pragmatic eyes and thus your opinion of his two more despicable acts has a way of being more sympathetic than it might be otherwise.

It's a shame we had to wait five years for another Paul Thomas Anderson film, but it was a wait that was richly rewarded. His cinematography took a film which may appear to have no need for the big screen and made that size screen borderline mandatory. Columns of oil, gritted teeth, bible thumping and other things which are not CGI muppets are presented with an intensity that matches Daniel Day-Lewis's frequent outbursts - including a part about halfway into the film where he just slaps the shit out of the sniveling young priest (which, frankly and a little sadistically I admit, I could watch on a continuous loop for some time).

So yes, this kind of plays to my "beliefs" at times and thus the final facet which the film maker has little control over - whether or not the story plays to your personal views - also fell into place. Grab your wallet and run to the theater as fast as you can!Speaking of the imaginary beast brigade, the second big Scientology protest happened yesterday in 'celebration' of L. Ron Hubbard's birthday. The Toronto protest got a decent crowd and I nabbed a few photographs. Good on the three hundred plus got out there and gave these odious shit-merchants a poke in the eye. Another protest is already planned for April 12th and I think I'll finally participate.Finally, I've recently learned of a real-life fellow who seems every bit as driven and strangely admirable as Daniel in "There Will Be Blood". His name is Joaquin Balaguer and I strongly suggest giving his wikipedia entry at least a little perusal, as he is just about the best example of a literal enviro-fascist as I've ever come across in my readings on history and politics.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

More Sweding

You may recall my rambling about "Be Kind, Rewind". Well, here is a particularly fun Swede of Star Wars that my room mate bumbled across. Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

One thing I've been thinking a lot about since moving to Toronto is the whole condo rah rah rah.A lot of amateur class warriors like to hate on them due to the opulence of several complexes, mixed with the greed which is plainly evidenced by the developers at times and the occasional hint at nefarious practices to serve said greed (i.e. pressuring the city to let them bulldoze historical and/or colourful neighborhoods to build more condos). I've also heard some complain about how they have a way of blocking everyone else from the lovely view of Lake Ontario.My temp job at the moment is with Waterfront Toronto and they are all about the redevelopment of a long stretch of prime real esate. The view from various windows on their floor affords a peek at precisely the tall towers which have some folk grinding their teeth.I think this is certainly something I want to learn more about. I know that my own life aspirations tend to steer away from living in the suburbs, in a house, raising some kids etc. Generally I want to live in a central, urban location and not have to deal with the multitude of maintenance issues a house involves. This sorta lends itself to my working towards a deposit on a condo instead of a house. Now, I'll have to do pretty well for myself to afford any of the places I'm showing here. Like I said, opulence.But there is another angle that appeals to me, the environmental one (surprise!). Surely it's more environmental to stick a few hundred people into one building which covers as much land as any condoplex usually does than to spread them out across several acres of lower density housing? I think this is certainly something worth researching and wouldn't mind if anyone wants to toss in their ten cents on this one. Plus, it's not a commune or anything but I know they generally have communal areas and one could hope for a better shot at getting to know your neighbors that way then what I've witnessed in places like Kanata Lakes or the outer regions of London.Meanwhile, I continue to work on retyping and rejigging "Tonight We Fall In Love" from top to bottom. It's strange to be doing this, it's somewhere between reading ancient diary entries and chastising your younger self for doing something worse than your present self is able.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Quiet day

Holy cow am I tired but tomorrow I'm looking at a post to go with some waterfront pictures I took today. I wouldn't be writing today but I wanted to share this interesting article, which may lead to some interesting ramifications on the U.S. presidential election as well as the semi-official war on science that is being conduced in that same country.

Now I gotta go continue to sleep off the housewarming wingding in which there were...TOO MANY MEN.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Jesus Christ London...

...this is not a good idea!

Addendum: Ah, now I see why that picture of Patrick Swayze I used seems to be attracting so much traffic.

Round and round and round she goes

FLIPFLOP
...and you don't stop?

Well, I've found more than three days temp work and it feels pretty durn good. A permanent role would be better, but this staves off the money demons to such a distance that they shan't be distracting me as much as they have been lately.
This is good since my web series show bible got the thumbs up from my director, who is now going to run it by the producer to do a cost analysis. I look forward to finding out what may need to be cut or changed to save costs, so that I can then plow onward and write the remaining twelve episodes of the thirteen episode season. Given that it's for the web, they're going to be about ten minutes long and I enjoy the constraint.I couldn't find the exact post, but I know I've mentioned here before about how one of the first challenges I had to overcome was writing scenes that read like novels. With only ten pages to try and convey almost as much as you might have in a half hour or even hour-long program...this is not a luxury you can afford! I still am not in a position to reveal much, but when I can, I will.MEANWHILE
I cannot seem to escape these craven idols of Freddie Mercury.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Friggin' innernet!

Sometimes I still get a little dazzled by some of the absurdities of the way the internet works. Curious as to why I was getting dozens and dozens of hits today, I checked my stats to see that TODAY IS THE DAY, THE DAY WHEN EVERYBODY IS SEARCHING FOR A PICTURE OF PATRICK SWAYZE (that I used as a visual gag once).

My tits, they went up

I must admit, I'd bought into the semi-legit "common knowledge" that Torontonians are less than savvy when it comes to judging what is a harsh snow storm by Canadian standards. Having already had an anti-climax or two, I didn't take the warning for tonight seriously.

Did I get hoisted by my own petard? Something like that! The important thing is that I just damn near cracked my coccyx by slipping on fresh, smooth smooth ice. While lying on my fractured ass, I looked up at a great scene of snowfall coming down into a Kensington market alleyway. I pulled out my camera and was promptly told the battery was out.

Okay world, ya got me! Pictures tomorrow. Standing erect without fear of reprisal tomorrow.